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Frequently asked questions

Answers to the most popular queries about submitting an academic
appeal.

How will my appeal be
considered?

View instructions for submitting an
appeal. It is anticipated that all relevant
information/evidence will be provided by the student at the time of
the Stage One submission. The
Stage One appeal flowchart outlines the steps involved.
Therefore, the Complaints and Appeals Team will not automatically
contact the student for further documentation and a case could be
rejected on the grounds that insufficient evidence/information has
been provided.

If the appeal is escalated to Stage Two, the case will be
presented to the University’s Academic Appeal Panel by a member of
the Complaints and Appeals Team. The Panel is Chaired by an
Assistant Vice-Chancellor, with membership including one senior
representative from each Faculty, the associate Faculty and Student
Partnership Services. The Panel will make a decision based upon the
information provided by both the student and the Complaints and
Appeals Team. If further information is required, the case will be
put on hold until it has been obtained.

Students are not invited to attend the Appeal Panel, so it is
important to ensure that everything you would like to be considered
is provided within the
Stage Two appeal form. You may find the
Stage Two appeal flowchart helpful if you would like to know
more about the process.

Can I discuss my circumstances with
someone in person?

If you would like to meet with a member of
the Complaints and Appeals Team (at any stage of the process)
please contact us via email academicappeals@uwe.ac.uk
or on +44 (0)117 32 83371.

If you would like support and guidance during the process
(including the writing and submission of the appeal itself), please
contact The Students’ Union at UWE Bristol Advice
Centre.

How long will the academic appeal
process take?

It could take up to six weeks for a decision to be made in
response to an appeal at Stage One, and a further six weeks at
Stage Two if initiated.

There is no guarantee that individual cases will be resolved
prior to any resit coursework deadline, resit examinations or award
ceremonies. The original decision of the examining board will
remain valid, unless it is subsequently revised following the
outcome from a successful appeal. Therefore, until you are informed
of the outcome of your appeal, you should prepare for any
assessments and/or resit assessments as usual.

What will happen if the appeal is
accepted?

If it is determined that a student has valid grounds for an
academic appeal, the Complaints and Appeals Team will consider the
most appropriate outcome in line with the Academic Regulations.

A member of the Complaints and Appeals Team will email the
student to advise of the decision to accept the appeal and to
explain any impact it will have upon the student’s studies.
However, it is important for students to be aware of the
following:

If the student has completed their degree, the acceptance of an
appeal will not automatically mean that the degree classification
is raised. It is possible that the student’s academic profile may
be referred back to the Award Board for reconsideration, however,
this does not mean that the degree classification will necessarily
change.

If the outcome of an appeal results in a piece of work being
re-considered, this does not mean that the mark will definitely
change.

What if my appeal is
rejected?

If your appeal is unsuccessful, a member of the Complaints and
Appeals Team will write to you and explain why the decision was
made (this will be via email at Stage One and via a written letter
at Stage Two). Both the email and the letter will explain the ‘next
steps’ that are available to you if you wish to take the matter
further.

When an appeal is unsuccessful it means that the decision of the
examining board remains the same and that your academic results
will not be changed.

If you wish to take the matter further (either to Stage Two of
the appeal process or, following an outcome at Stage Two, to the
Office of the Independent
Adjudicator), you may choose to ask The Students’ Union at UWE
Bristol Advice
Centre for support and guidance with your next submission.